If you care for an aging parent or you are navigating your own aches and stress, you have likely heard the buzz around CBD. That conversation jumped into the spotlight after a new video shared by President Trump on Truth Social promoted hemp-derived CBD for older adults and urged government health programs to cover it. The clip quickly rippled through financial markets, and cannabis-linked equities surged at the week’s open. Tilray shares spiked more than 40 percent, while Canopy Growth and Cronos Group also rallied. The AdvisorShares Pure U.S. Cannabis ETF (MSOS) moved higher in tandem, underscoring how sensitive the sector remains to policy signals.
The video behind the rally
Released by the Commonwealth Project, an advocacy group focused on integrating cannabis into elder healthcare, the nearly three-minute video targets seniors and the clinicians who care for them. It applauds the 2018 farm bill, which legalized industrial hemp at the federal level and opened the door to hemp-derived CBD products. The message calls for physician education on CBD, as well as public insurance coverage for CBD products for older adults, citing Medicare and broader messaging that includes Medicaid. The content frames CBD as a potential aid for pain and stress management, two common concerns among older Americans. That framing, combined with the high-profile share on social media, helped push the topic onto trading desks and into mainstream conversation.
Stocks surge as investors chase policy momentum
Momentum traders piled into cannabis names at the open, with Tilray leading gains and Canopy Growth and Cronos Group not far behind. The MSOS ETF, a U.S.-focused cannabis fund, jumped in step, reflecting broad-based buying across the space. The outsized move in Tilray, which exceeded 40 percent at one point, illustrates how quickly sentiment can swing on perceived policy catalysts. For investors, the reaction underscores a familiar pattern. When influential figures float supportive ideas, even without concrete policy, cannabis equities can see sharp and sudden shifts.
Federal cannabis policy remains a patchwork
The industry’s long-term goal is federal reform that matches expanding access at the state level and unlocks capital, research, and standardized care. Today, cannabis remains a Schedule I substance under the Controlled Substances Act, a classification that denotes no accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse. Under the Biden administration, the Department of Health and Human Services recommended that the Drug Enforcement Administration move cannabis to a less restrictive schedule. During the prior administration, decriminalization was not a frequent theme. More recently, President Trump signaled that his team was reviewing reclassification and framed the issue as complex, with encouraging medical signals alongside broader concerns.
States have moved faster than Washington
Medical cannabis access is authorized in 40 states, and adult-use access is legal in 24 states. This state-by-state approach has built a sizable market and a growing body of patient experience, yet it stops at the federal line. The result is a fragmented regime that complicates investment decisions, scientific research, interstate commerce, and integration into healthcare workflows. Providers practicing in multiple states face inconsistent rules, and patients encounter uneven access and guidance. Those gaps are most visible when talk turns to insurance coverage, clinical protocols, and dosing standards.
Advocates push for research and senior access
Supporters of rescheduling or broader reform argue that federal change would lower barriers to clinical study and accelerate evidence-based guidance. With clearer rules, they say, CBD and other cannabinoids could be evaluated for specific conditions using standardized dosing and safety monitoring. Groups focused on elder care add an equity dimension, noting that older adults often live on fixed incomes and have multiple chronic conditions. Without coverage or consistent clinical support, they are left to navigate a confusing retail marketplace. The Commonwealth Project points out that even as rescheduling is considered, the current Schedule I status continues to impede research and clinical adoption, a reality that weighs heavily on Americans 65 and older.
Uncertainty at the DEA and on timing
The stance of current DEA leadership on cannabis policy is not yet clear, and initial agency priorities have emphasized the fight against fentanyl and synthetic opioids. There is no firm timetable for a rescheduling decision, which leaves patients, providers, and investors waiting. That uncertainty feeds volatility in public markets and caution in healthcare systems that might otherwise pilot CBD-related protocols. Until the federal stance shifts, insurers and large provider networks are unlikely to move far beyond limited, state-specific programs. The gap between political signals and formal rulemaking remains the sector’s central risk.
What to watch next
The biggest near-term catalyst is a DEA decision on rescheduling in response to the HHS recommendation. Any new White House guidance on CBD coverage for seniors, including Medicare or Medicaid considerations, would also be significant. Policymakers would have to define evidence standards, dosing frameworks, and qualifying conditions before any federal program could responsibly reimburse CBD. On Capitol Hill, legislation that harmonizes federal rules with state legalization could unlock research funding, clarify interstate commerce, and set reimbursement pathways. Until then, expect cannabis stocks to react to headlines and for the debate over CBD for seniors to grow louder as more families and clinicians look for safe, affordable options.